Customers Can't Get Ill. ComEd Bribery Suit Restored

By Celeste Bott

An Illinois state appellate panel refused Monday to reinstate a putative class action accusing Commonwealth Edison of fraud in the wake of the utility's admission that it bribed the former Illinois House speaker to secure his support for favorable energy policy, saying the passage of the relevant legislation wasn't directly related to the bribes.

Opinion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Chicago Wants Help Probing Migrant-Moving Bus Companies

By Lauraann Wood

Chicago is asking for an Illinois state court's help to enforce subpoenas the city says it issued to learn more about illegal migrant transportation services several bus companies have provided for the state of Texas, saying the companies have ignored its information requests.

Complaint attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Alden Newspapers Allege OpenAI, Microsoft Rip Off IP

By Dorothy Atkins

Eight regional newspapers owned by private equity giant Alden Global Capital sued OpenAI and Microsoft in New York federal court Tuesday, accusing the tech companies of ripping off the newspapers' copyrights and misappropriating news articles to train AI chatbots that also allegedly spread fake news falsely attributed to the newspapers.

Complaint attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Jury Convicts Ill. Biz Owner Of $1.3M VA Kickback Scheme

By Lauraann Wood

An Illinois business owner was convicted on Monday of eight counts of wire fraud for paying kickbacks to a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs clerk in exchange for what prosecutors called "bogus" monthly rental fees.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Chicago Hoopsters Drop NIL Antitrust Suit Against NCAA

By Jade Martinez-Pogue

Two Chicago State University freshman basketball players on Tuesday dropped their suit alleging that the NCAA violated antitrust laws by declaring them ineligible to compete because they received compensation for their names, images and likenesses while in high school.

Notice attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Truck Driver Wins $12M In Illinois Crash Case

By Jonathan Capriel

An Illinois state jury hit a pipeline construction company with a $12 million verdict over claims that one of its drivers rear-ended a semitruck driver, causing a spinal injury and lifelong pain.

Complaint attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Kroger, Albertsons Say FTC Distorts Markets In Merger Case

By Matthew Perlman

Kroger and Albertsons told an Oregon federal court to reject a pending merger challenge by the Federal Trade Commission and a group of states, saying it distorts the competitive landscape for the grocery and labor markets.

2 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

7th Circ. Backs Costco's Win In Gas Price-Matching Feud

By Gina Kim

The Seventh Circuit on Tuesday upheld Costco's victory against a dozen Wisconsin gas stations that claimed the warehouse giant sold regular unleaded fuel below a statutory minimum markup price that allegedly caused a decline in revenue, finding no evidence showing that Costco's pricing practices caused the stations a single lost sale.

Opinion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Think Like A Lawyer: Follow The Iron Rule Of Trial Logic

Many diligent and eager attorneys include every good fact, point and rule in their trial narratives — spurred by the gnawing fear they’ll be second-guessed for leaving something out — but this approach ignores a fundamental principle of successful trial lawyering, says Luke Andrews at Poole Huffman.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Series

Walking With My Dog Makes Me A Better Lawyer

Thanks to my dog Birdie, I've learned that carving out an activity different from the practice of law — like daily outdoor walks that allow you to interact with new people — can contribute to professional success by boosting creativity and mental acuity, as well as expanding your social network, says Sarah Petrie at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »